title: Adrenomedullin is a marker of carotid plaques and intima-media thickness as well as brachial pulse pressure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adrenomodulin (ADM) is a peptide hormone secreted in response to cellular strain such as ischemia and is believed to have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. However, the epidemiological relationships between ADM and measurements of haemodynamics, arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the mid-regional part of pro-ADM (MR-proADM) and brachial pulse pressure (PP), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study has a cross-sectional design and includes 4924 individuals (mean age 58 years, 40% men) from Malmö, Sweden, examined between 1991 and 1994. Participants underwent physical examination, measurement of MR-proADM and ultrasound of the carotid arteries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a positive association between MR-proADM and brachial PP, cIMT as well as a carotid plaque score. The associations were significant after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADM is positively associated with brachial PP and both carotid IMT and plaques, suggesting a role for ADM in early haemodynamic pathophysiology related to arteriosclerosis and the atherosclerotic plaque development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gottsäter
authors.forename: Lisa Bellinetto
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ostling
authors.forename: Magaretha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Melander
mesh_terms: D053607:Adrenomedullin / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010455:Peptides; D053607:Adrenomedullin